By NDUNG’U GACHANE

In Summary

They castigated Governor Mwangi Wa Iria’s administration for changing the maternity ward’s use without seeking their views.

Health Executive Member Joseph Mbai said the change is meant to help mothers whose children have cerebral palsy.

He said distance from Kambirwa Health Centre to Murang’a hospital is one that expectant mothers can cover.

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Murang’a County government and the residents of Kambirwa in Kiharu Constituency are embroiled in a row after the county converted a maternity ward at Kambirwa Health Centre into a centre for children with cerebral palsy.

The furious locals have sought the intervention of the Murang’a County Assembly protesting the decision of the executive, saying the pregnant mothers will now have to travel for a longer distance to Murang’a County referral hospital for the services.

In a petition read by the Speaker Nduati Kariuki, the locals have castigated Governor Mwangi Wa Iria’s administration for changing the maternity ward’s use without seeking their views.

NO DISCUSSIONS

“There were no discussions done at the community level to agree or to disagree with this and women are left suffering and have been forced to travel to Murang’a General Hospital which is a longer distance,” the petition signed by 28 residents read.

The said the maternity ward was already complete with incubators, only for the county government to change its use upon its completion.